Signed 384/500. Lovely Daze is a collection of artists’ writings and artworks published twice a year in limited editions. The first issue, “a day in New York when nothing happens,” is divided into three sections based on the different mental states that make up the artists’ day: dream, reality and daze. Prompted by my experience living and working for the Arts in New York, Lovely Daze is the synthesis of two opposing mentalities. The first sprouted from a joint discovery with a like-minded friend, Kelly, of a fruition of life outside of the commonly accepted notions of accomplishment and productivity. Together, we came to an empirical understanding of the subjectivity of success, and the artlessness of slaving to attain such intangible subjectivity. Both unemployed at the time, we indulged in a mentality devoted to the wonderment of our ever-present state of vitality and the goodness of those around us. The esoteric bliss that we invented led to the naming of the publication and the theme of this inaugural issue. The second polarizing mind-set, which instigated the realization of this publication, is derived from my current employed life working for an ambitious and established artist. Encouraged to produce as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and constantly being recognized or criticized for the level of my contribution to what is believed to be the greater good, (namely the contemporary art world), I am driven to become more conscious of an exoteric life outside of familiar habits and faces. My cumulative experience, of both being an artist and working for an artist, merged two conflicting perspectives and gave rise to the goal of Lovely Daze: To provide a platform for young artists to present, first hand, their writings and art. Rather than resorting to the prevalent trend of encouraging young artists to shock with the hopes of instant recognition, the publication aspires to explore conversely how their theories substantiate their practice, and their thoughts corporealize through writing and making art. The selection of works is based on the artists’ ability to develop their creative practices integrally in the areas of techniques, aesthetics, and concepts… and admittedly, it is also based on my personal admiration. No